Youngevity and The Championship Attitude of The UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball Team

Okay – so I’m harping on the subject of the championship attitude as explained in Jim Fannin’s 90 Second Rule (see the previous 2 posts). I can’t help it – the attitude is contagious.

And I’m re-connecting that attitude to the subject of youngevity.

C’mon – some of us boomers just plain give up – forget about living well and just exist – especially if we have aging parents setting a real bad example – demanding respect where none is deserved, placing excessive demands on our already stressful lives, and generally being PIAs.

Yeah, we may love our parents, but some of them never learned this championship attitude and will never understand youngevity and the concept of a zoomer.

And I keep seeing examples of that attitude being alive and well in today’s society. The most obvious example is a sports team that goes beyond the call to deliver stellar performances.

Yesterday I watched the UConn Huskies Women’s basketball team beat Georgetown in a Big East tournament game in Hartford. The Huskies are a championship team regardless of how many games they win or lose and yesterday’s game is a prime example.

The pesky, fouling, street play shown by the Hoyas took out the offensive power of UConn’s best scorer – Maya Moore. In this game, there were no classic Maya fingertip rolls to score an easy layup. In fact, this player looked a little off in the pre-game warmups.

But the Huskies are a true team. Moore contributed by grabbing 15 rebounds and creating Hoya turnovers. The offensive push came from the freshman center Stephanie Dolson who scored 26 points. Outstanding all around hustling was contributed by Tiffany Hayes, Bria Hartley, and the amazing Kelly Faris. The Huskies never let up in a relentless drive to teamwork excellence.

When you are feeling old, you can be envious of youthful energy and zest for living. If you think youngevity, you can’t help being inspired by the championship drive in any of life’s arenas. The sports arena is obvious, but what about positive contributions to family life, to the work arena, or to education.

Be a champion – you can’t help feeling anything but young.

Youngevity And The Championship Attitude Of Maya Moore

If you read my post about Jim Fannin's 90 second rule (http://agedefiance.blogspot.com/2011/03/youngevity-key-to-longevity-from.html), you know that he talks about youngevity this way: feeling young is directly related to and dependent on acting young.

You may want to give this thought and Jim Fannin's championship mentality as expressed in the 90 second rule another hard look.

Are you a champion? Do you live your life as a champion?

Or are you a victim, wallowing in self-pity and blaming everyone but yourself for your woes? Do you often say "it's tough to get old?"

A True Champion
Here's my concept of a true champion - the best college women's basketball player - ever. She's Maya Moore, a champion on the basketball court and in the classroom.

I mention this young woman because I watched an interview with her recently. Obviously wise well beyond her years, she basically said that she sets her (life) standards high, and meets or exceeds them every day in whatever she's doing - basketball, her studies, and her personal relationships.

Maya emphasized that this practice of meeting high standards is not always easy, but becomes a habit if you follow them every day. And that's the very reason why this woman is the best of the best in her sport and in the classroom. She has a championship attitude.

Now, it does help to be blessed with superior abilities. But even if Maya was not talented, she would still behave with as she does today - in championship form.

Well, what about you - start thinking like a champ in whatever you do - work, hobby, childcare, sport, and all other life arenas!

Act young and you will feel young!

Skip a bit every day.

Youngevity - The Key To Longevity From An Unlikely Source

On the way to work, I listen to self-help programs because it's much more informative than radio talk shows featuring hosts ranting about their hysterical political views (you know who I'm referring to) or the oldies station that plays bubblegum love songs.

The current program is called the 90 Second Rule by Jim Fannin.

Jim coaches champion corporate leaders and tennis, golf, and baseball players (Alex Rodriquez is one of his clients). The point is to use 90 second segments to direct each part of your life to achieve balance and what he calls "championship" status.

I typically listen to this programs 3, 4, and 5 times because staying present is sometimes difficult while driving - so I miss key points. On the first run at this program, I missed the segment on longevity.

But THIS morning, I heard Mr. Fannin talking about how to stay young by thinking about your life before age 4. Life before 4 years of age is carefree, devoid of worry, and full of playful exercise, trust, and honesty (Mrs Jones, why are you so fat?).

So if you can return to youthful thinking (with the adult filters), you have a shot at youngevity and will soon discover the key to longevity.

Fannin says he taught a Chicago Bears linebacker how to skip (like a child). In the middle of an important game (they're all important), this linebacker blundered through a series of downs and was subjected to a major lecture on the sidelines (with a few expletives mixed in). This 300 pound football player then skipped back into the game and made several key blocks leading to a Bears touchdown.

Acting like a child (in a good way) may just be the key to longevity/youngevity!